5 players the Cleveland Cavaliers should try trade for and how to get them

1. C.J. McCollum

This is the unicorn. This is the play the Cavs can make to not only guarantee title possibilities in 2022 but beyond. CJ McCollum is among the league’s best scorers and it seems like the ride is over in Portland. We already know that guys like Norman Powell and Robert Covington really didn’t get much back, so the Blazers shouldn’t be expecting massive picks back for McCollum. So the trade is a bit light in that regard, but I’d be open to throwing in a first and a few seconds to get this done.

After all, McCollum fits well with the Cavs in all but one way. He can score inside and out, his three-point game is exceptional and he’s a hustle guy on defense so while he’s not Isaac Okoro, he can at least get in someone’s face.

Yet, the one way he doesn’t fit in is a biggie and that’s down to his age. Adding him and his contract would accelerate the Cavaliers’ need to win, much sooner than they should be expected to. McCollum and Kevin Love have a few years in them to be primary contributors and they need to be utilized to their fullest going forward. Does adding McCollum cause the Cavs to speed up the process, thereby getting overcooked and underdeveloped? Or does he give the team exactly what they need in order to get to the NBA finals this year?

As mentioned before, the Cavs should not offer up any draft picks at first glance. A first-round pick and some seconds should be used if only the team doesn’t take the offer at first glance. Let’s be real, they got nothing in return for Norman Powell, this trade at least gives the Blazers Collin Sexton (hopefully on a sign-and-trade) and Dylan Windler to develop if they’re going full rebuild and if not, then they can also add Ricky Rubio to the proceedings.

A three-point shooter, a small-ball mid-ranger scorer, and a potential three-point marksmen aren’t a bad get considering what they settled for in the Powell deal. This is a good get for the Cavs, so if a first-round pick (or heck, two), needs to be added; then do it. McCollum is worth it.